OK, here's the haul of pics. There's a lot of them, so be prepared to be busy for a while. In the interest of not driving everyone insane, I showed only one pic from each "section" and made the rest links.
Let's get started. One of the fun things about The Great Escape is that they have several different types of shows airing throughout the day. Unfortunately since we got in a little late in the day, we only got to catch two performances.
Shows:
Diving:
I was kind of surprised they even held the diving show... it was about 65 degrees Fahrenheit at midday, which is chilly for getting wet. But there were a fair number of guests frolicking in the water park area during the day, so I guess some people are just hardier than most. :)
At any rate, the "theme" of this year's show was celebrating the 100th year of diving being an Olympic sport, but really it was just an excuse for lots of diving craziness. ;D
Pool Antics (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/diving/pool-antics.jpg)
Fun with pool craziness.
Bouncing High (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/diving/air-time.jpg)
A diver taking his initial springs off the board.
Heading Down (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/diving/air-time-2.jpg)
A diver coming out of a somersault.
Back Hang Time (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/diving/back-air.jpg)
IIRC this was a simple back-inward-layout.
Back Somersault (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/diving/back-somersault.jpg)
The end of a back somersault. (Hard to guess from the title, I know.)
Going Vertical (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/diving/going-vertical.jpg)
I forget what kind of dive this was, but the shot I got is pretty neat.
Pike Position (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/diving/perfect-pike.jpg)
A really nice shot of a diver coming out of a pike somersault. Looks almost like a still rings Maltese Cross, actually, if I'm remembering my skills correctly.
The Side-Glide (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/diving/side-air.jpg)
I think this was the opening to a twisting dive.
Hang Glide (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/diving/higher-air-time.jpg)
A jump off the seven-foot platform.
The High Dive (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/diving/high-dive.jpg)
If you see that little tiny platform all the way at the top just below the flag, that's where he dove from. 15 meters!
Later on in the day, we happened to catch the tail end of another performance of the show, which I didn't have time to snap a picture of. In this case, the diver did a handstand on that 15 meter platform! Because the platform is so tiny (I'd be surprised if it was more than a meter square) what he had to do was: grab onto the small amount of ladder just above the platform under the flag, walk his feet up the ladder rungs, hook his feet around the top rung, hang and lean backwards and grab his hands behind him onto the sides of the platform, then carefully swing his feet back away from the ladder. It was crazy!
Circus:
The circus show started with a lady swinging and doing tricks on a thick rope set up in a trapeze-esque style, but we came in right on the tail end of it and missed it. There were three more acts after that.
Chair Balancing:
The first act we got to see was a fellow who stacked and balanced on chairs.
Two Chairs (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/circus/chairs-two.jpg)
Starting "small" with two chairs.
Three Chairs (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/circus/chairs-three.jpg)
Doing a handstand for this set.
A Whole Lotta Chairs (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/circus/chairs-whole-lotta.jpg)
The "Grand Finale" of his act. Wow!
The Tumbling Act:
A trio of performers from Australia, consisting of a fellow, his son, and either his wife or his daughter, I wasn't sure which. (It was really hard to hear him talking during his introductions.) They did a lot of fun balancing and tumbling, but my timing was poor so I only got a few good shots.
Flipping Tumblers (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/circus/tumblers-flip.jpg)
The son does a few somersaults while being tossed in the air by his dad's feet.
Spit Roast (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/circus/tumblers-lady-flip.jpg)
The, erm, daughter, wife, whatever (blerg) gets spin-juggled several times by the dad.
Standing Around (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/circus/tumblers-balancing-act.jpg)
The dad supports his son standing on one foot.
Whirlybird (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/circus/tumblers-whirlybird.jpg)
The dad spins his son and female family member while supporting them on a beam on his feet.
The Pendulum Act:
I dunno what the technical term would be for the device... basically it was a mesh ring open on the sides on one end, and a smaller counterweight ring on the other. It looked like the top of the mesh ring would have been 30-40 feet off the ground. It was the same fellow who did the chair balancing. :) I had better timing for this one, so I got more shots.
Oops! (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/circus/pendulum-oops.jpg)
Careful, watch your step!
Jumping Around (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/circus/pendulum-jumping-around.jpg)
For a few of the revolutions he would jump and land as the ring reached its apex.
Split Take (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/circus/pendulum-splits.jpg)
In this instance he did the splits during his jump.
Star Pose (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/circus/pendulum-inside-top.jpg)
The end of the "first" part of his act, where he did stuff while inside the ring.
Waving at the Fans (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/circus/pendulum-horizontal-wave.jpg)
He waves at the crowd while the pendulum is perfectly horizontal.
Ring Walk (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/circus/pendulum-walking-on-top.jpg)
"Standard" walking on top of the mesh ring during the revolutions.
Skipping Rope (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/circus/pendulum-skip-rope.jpg)
It's hard to actually see the rope in this shot, but basically he did a few revolutions where he would quickly skip rope a few times at certain balance points.
Walking in the Dark (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/circus/pendulum-blindfolded.jpg)
A shot from where he did a few revolutions walking on top with a dark sack over his head.
Star Pose # 2 (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/circus/pendulum-outside-top.jpg)
The Grand Finale, with him standing on top of the outside of the mesh ring.
Of course, an amusement park wouldn't be much of an amusement park without rides, funky themes, and gift shops, so here you go:
Antique Cars:
Basically a kitchsy little ride where you "steer" old-fashioned cars around a short track. (The cars are all on guides, so it's pretty much a kiddie ride, but there's enough leeway that if you don't steer well you end up clunking from side-to-side the whole ride.) Oddly enough, the cars all have the steering wheels on the right side of the vehicle.
Driving Mr. Harrison (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/antique-cars/driving-mr-harrison.jpg)
Gee, I wonder what Harrison thinks of my driving?
Waiting For Godot (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/antique-cars/waiting-for-boarding.jpg)
Standing in line for the ride. The fellow there with the blue shirt, his shirt said "Live slow" on the back and "Sail fast" on the front. Funny. :D
Starting Out (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/antique-cars/starting-out.jpg)
Yay, we're going for a ride!
Jungleland:
This is a few shots of things found just outside the jungle-themed area of the park. Unfortunately the inside of the area hadn't been very well kept-up over the years, so it was a lot lamer than I remember, and thus I didn't get any shots from there.
The Gorilla Guardian (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/jungleland/gorilla.jpg)
The sight that greets you just above the area's entrance. He moves back and forth sometimes. :)
Elephant Statue (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/jungleland/elephant.jpg)
A very cool exotic-looking statue. The card in front is hard to read, but it basically stated how the elephant was carved back in 1904 for a fair.
Elephant Statue - Side (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/jungleland/elephant-side.jpg)
A side view of the statue.
Capybaras (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/jungleland/capybara.jpg)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capybara
Interesting-looking creatures.
Sky Coaster:
This is a bungee-jump "ride" where people get strapped into a "basket", hauled 165 feet into the air, and then they pull the ripcord and fall down and swing out over the park. Even Harrison wasn't touching this one, but I figured as long as people were crazy enough to go on it I'd catch a couple shots.
Flying High (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/sky-coaster/flying-high.jpg)
OMG, I can't believe I was dumb enough to do this! AAAAAHHHHHH!
Going Up (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/sky-coaster/going-up.jpg)
In the midst of getting hauled up to the top.
Raging Rapids:
This is a ride where you sit in a tube and float around a long track of rapids, turns, waterfalls, water spouts, and whatnot. It's pretty random whether you get wet or not, but most people end up pretty drenched.
Waves From Me (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/raging-rapids/me-waving.jpg)
Me waving at Harrison's mom (who took the picture). Either that or saying "Help, get me off this thing!" XD (Actually, it's a semi-tame ride... most of the fun is in dodging the waterfalls.)
Dodging the Waterfall (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/raging-rapids/waterfall.jpg)
Speaking of dodging waterfalls...
Looking Back on Things (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/raging-rapids/looking-back.jpg)
Harrison trying to catch a glimpse of his mom behind him. By the looks of it we were the two heaviest people in the raft, so we kept getting stuck going backwards.
The Steamin' Demon:
Although it's not the most famous coaster in the park (I would guess the Comet would get that boast) I'd say it's the park's "flagship coaster", as well as its first coaster. I've been on it before, but wasn't in the mood for going upside-down this trip, so Harrison went by himself. (His mom wasn't inclined to go upside-down either, so she snapped the pic.)
Loop-De-Loop (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/steamin-demon/demon-loop.jpg)
Going through the loop. It doesn't show in these pics, but the loop opens out into a double corkscrew, then goes back to the station.
Going Up! (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/steamin-demon/demon.jpg)
Almost at the top of the lift hill.
The Boomerang:
This is a "staple coaster" at every Six Flags park, apparently. Basically, you get loaded into the trains at the station facing right. You then get pulled "backwards" to the left, to the top of a lift hill. Then you go shooting forwards through a semi-loop, corkscrew, and full loop to another lift hill, facing left. You get pulled "forwards" to the left up the hill, then get let go to do the whole course backwards and end up back at the station. Definitely not mine or Harrison's mom's cup of tea, so he went on alone. His mom got the pics, and I skipped off to the bumper cars. ;)
Corkscrewed (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/boomerang/boomerang-corkscrew.jpg)
Going through the corkscrew forwards.
Going Down (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/boomerang/going-down.jpg)
Just starting to fall from the initial lift hill.
Loop-De-Loop (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/boomerang/boomerang-loop.jpg)
Going through the loop forwards.
Miscellaneous Pics:
Just random "single-shot" pics.
Cinderella's Castle (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/misc/cinderella-castle.jpg)
The castle where they hold a "Cinderella coach ride" for the wee ones. Cinderella looked kind of crabby that day... maybe because her moat could use a cleaning.
Alpine Bobsled (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/misc/bobsled.jpg)
This looked sorta like a cross between a water slide and a wooden roller coaster. I had to sit this one out because my head was still reeling from a previous ride, so Harrison and his mom went on their own. I dunno if this was them or not... I got bored waiting for them to come out so I started taking random shots of the ride. This was the only good one, though, because my timing was really lousy.
Pirate Ship (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/misc/pirate-ship.jpg)
The requisite Pirate Ship/Jolly Roger/Sea Dragon swinging ship ride. None of us went on it (despite Harrison's attempts to nudge us), this was just a shot I took while fooling around waiting for them to come off the Bobsled ride.
The Court Jester (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/misc/jester.jpg)
If Harrison were alive in medevial times, he'd have either been a jester or a minstrel. (Or both! XD) The damp spots are because this was taken not too long after we'd gone on the Raging Rapids, where we both managed to get wet. (My entire backside was drenched, although my front was pretty dry.)
There's a whole section of the park called Storyland which is full of kid-sized historical and nursery rhyme houses. It would have been good for more pics, but we didn't have time to walk through it. :(
Anyhoo. I still have a couple souvenir photos I need to scan and post for you guys when I get the chance. :)
Peace & Luv, Liz
Great pics! :)
Now what were you saying about your life being boring? ;)
Quote from: Louisiana Night on September 06, 2004, 04:39:58 PM
Great pics! :)
Now what were you saying about your life being boring? ;)
Seeing as how this sort of thing happens once a year at most, I still say my life is boring. :)
Peace & Luv, Liz
yay!! now that's a post!! :jealous: :D
lol, nice pics!! seems to me you had a really good time
Next time you go take me!! :D
I think ~2400 miles is a long way to go just for an average amusement park trip, J-R. :D
Of course, I know you're just hoping that Australian circus tumbler lady is really the guy's daughter so she's available. :flirt:
Peace & Luv, Liz
Whoa! :D It looks like you had tons of fun! !!!
I did have fun, yes. ;D
BTW, if anyone actually wants all the pics visible, you can check out the quickie page I made to show my co-workers. But I'm warning you, it's 2MB worth of pics. :)
http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/index.htm
Peace & Luv, Liz
There's just one thing I don't like about theme parcs, and that's rides that take me upside down, be it by looping or corkscrew. :X
BTW, I didn't have any problem loading the quickie-page. :pleased:
Quote from: copycat on September 07, 2004, 02:19:56 PMThere's just one thing I don't like about theme parcs, and that's rides that take me upside down, be it by looping or corkscrew. :X
Neither do I, I find it too uncomfortable. Rides with just straight ups and downs, like most wooden roller coasters, don't bother me too much though.
Although, one thing that is sort of quirky... any ride where I'm up high off the ground and the scenery is going by quickly (especially if it's going by in many different directions), I usually can't keep my eyes open or I'll start getting sick to my stomach. So I have to ride most roller coasters with my eyes shut. :P XD
Peace & Luv, Liz
James loves da roller coasters!! !!!
And ~2400 miles is a long way. But there isn't any here, and plus there's YOU to visit, Liz. :flirt:
As for the circus tumbler lady....yeah, I like 'em flexible and agile. :suffer:
Whoo!! Funfunfun! :D Great pics!
I went to the Renaissance Fair yesterday, quite fun though we could only stay a few hours (my sister had to work at 3pm yesterday :P).
Quote from: Jeysie on September 07, 2004, 03:50:42 PMAlthough, one thing that is sort of quirky... any ride where I'm up high off the ground and the scenery is going by quickly (especially if it's going by in many different directions), I usually can't keep my eyes open or I'll start getting sick to my stomach. So I have to ride most roller coasters with my eyes shut. :P XD
Although I think the fact I get a headache from fps'es and such is because the screen changes too much, I don't have any problems with fast roller coasters, no matter how high they are. :pleased:
Quote from: J-ROC on September 07, 2004, 04:15:37 PMand plus there's YOU to visit, Liz. :flirt:
My sentiments exactly, and I don't think I live as far as you. :jealous:
Quote from: Jeysie on September 07, 2004, 03:50:42 PM
Quote from: copycat on September 07, 2004, 02:19:56 PMThere's just one thing I don't like about theme parcs, and that's rides that take me upside down, be it by looping or corkscrew. :X
Neither do I, I find it too uncomfortable. Rides with just straight ups and downs, like most wooden roller coasters, don't bother me too much though.
Any ride scares me even the merry go round kind of scares me
I don't blame you, those painted animals are FUGLY! :X
Quote from: Homestar Runner on September 08, 2004, 02:32:03 PMAny ride scares me even the merry go round kind of scares me
I'm not scared as such. I can watch those rides with great interest, but I don't want to experience it myself.
Quote from: Yonkey on September 08, 2004, 06:07:03 PMI don't blame you, those painted animals are FUGLY! :X
Would you like them to be in their naked grey (if they're made of metal) skin? Now
that would probably scare me. :stop:
Otay, I finally got around to scanning and snapping our souvenirs.
First off:
Adorable Stuffed Frog (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/souvenirs/froggie.jpg)
The adorable stuffed froggie that Harrison bought. He's so soft and fuzzy!
Next:
Souvenir Picture From the Comet (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/souvenirs/comet.jpg)
Can you tell which of us is having fun, and which is scared out of their wits? ::) :D
Souvenir Picture From the Desperado Plunge (http://miscfile.alienharmony.com/great-escape/souvenirs/plunge.jpg)
That's Harrison's mom in front gritting her teeth while screaming, Harrison in the middle ducking against getting splashed while screaming, and me in the back, just... screaming. ;D
Peace & Luv, Liz
LOL! :suffer: Jeysie's face in those two pics is priceless! XD
Quote from: Jeysie on September 12, 2004, 01:33:51 PMThe adorable stuffed froggie that Harrison bought. He's so soft and fuzzy!
I like soft and fuzzy. ;]
Quote from: copycat on September 12, 2004, 03:34:40 PMI like soft and fuzzy. ;]
Oh, good. Because I'm both (pokes at her flabby bits experimentally) soft and (studies her arms, tummy, legs, and feet) fuzzy. :evil:
Peace & Luv, Liz
Quote from: Jeysie on September 12, 2004, 03:41:40 PMOh, good. Because I'm both (pokes at her flabby bits experimentally) soft and (studies her arms, tummy, legs, and feet) fuzzy. :evil:
And
still you wonder why I :love: you?
Quote from: copycat on September 12, 2004, 03:54:37 PMQuote from: Jeysie on September 12, 2004, 03:41:40 PMOh, good. Because I'm both (pokes at her flabby bits experimentally) soft and (studies her arms, tummy, legs, and feet) fuzzy. :evil:
And still you wonder why I :love: you?
Well, yes. I do know some fellas who like (or at least don't mind) if a girl is pudgy, but the vast majority of them are pretty turned off by a girl who is hairy. :P
Peace & Luv, Liz
Quote from: Jeysie on September 12, 2004, 04:11:47 PMWell, yes. I do know some fellas who like (or at least don't mind) if a girl is pudgy, but the vast majority of them are pretty turned off by a girl who is hairy. :P
All I can say is: that's their loss.
*looks around*
No huge list of pics. ;D
P.S. I enjoyed them, but I disliked the long load time. :P